Historical Roleplaying Resources [Archive] - Wizards Community

Historical Roleplaying Resources [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
KJW
12-14-07, 01:02 PM This thread is for books, movies, and other resources that can help inspire those interested in developing d20 campaigns or settings for these time periods. Please post the time period and a brief description of the resource and I will add it here.

Pirates
There are so many sources available on the internet such as these provided by DebiHuman:
http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/pirates/ or this one
http://www.kipar.org/piratical-resou...ate-ships.html

Whtknt Suggestions:
url="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=19330&it=1"]Skull & Bones[/url] (Green Ronin) is practically tailor-made for what you want; a low-magic, high-adventure pirate campaign using a variant of the d20 System. It was also well-supported through Adamant Entertainment's Buccaneers & Bokor (http://adamant.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=272_4002), a series of e-zines about all things of interest to sea-dogs. I don't know that B&B is still published, however. Skull & Bones is available as a PDF (http://www.greenronin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1001&Product_Code=grr1018e&Category_Code=3) or in corporeal form (http://www.greenronin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1001&Product_Code=grr1018&Category_Code=3). If you decide to run a Skull & Bones campaign, please remember me, as I would be very interested.

Black Flags: Piracy in the Caribbean (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2323&it=1) (Avalanche Press) is more of a historical viewpoint of the genre. You'll find little information on magic in this book, but there is a wealth of solid material on playing historical pirates, and it makes a darned good read, as well! It is available for a song ($3.00) right now on RPGNow (follow the link above) and is easily worth that price for value as backdropping alone!

Pirates! (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1451&it=1) (Living Imagination) also melds reality with fantasy, presenting new feats, prestige classes, and magical items, as well as some very detailed ship construction rules.

I haven't looked at the majority of them, but you might also find some materials of use in the following search from RPGNow (http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=pira tes&x=0&y=0&search_filter=&filters=&search_free=&search_in_description=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1). I know from experience that The Le Games (Unorthodox Pirates (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=20641&it=1)) produces some decent material that is always entertaining, and I have a physical copy of Pirates of the Sea of Fallen Stars (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=16831&it=1) which, although designed for the Forgotten Realms, does offer some good ideas and information.

Aside from material specifically aimed at playing pirates, you might also want to track down copies of Stormwrack (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=28313&it=1) (Wizards of the Coast) and Seafarer's Handbook (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=484&it=1) (Fantasy Flight Games) from the Legends & Lairs series. Both of these offer essential information on aquatic adventuring.

Oh, and leave us not forget AEG's Swashbuckling Adventures (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3521&it=1). Much of this line (http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=377) is compatible with both the original 7th Sea RPG and the d20 System version. And of course, Green Ronin's Freeport (http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=free port&x=0&y=0&search_filter=&filters=&search_free=&search_in_description=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1) series is set in a fantasy pirate city!

Historical Japan
Sensei by David Charney is an excellent historical fiction novel based around the events of the Heike Monogatari (war between the Minamoto and Taira clans) set at the end of the Heian period in Japan.
(don't bother with the sequel, it's not nearly as well-written)

Napoleonic Era
C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels are a wonderful read and will totally get you in the mood for a Napoleonic Era naval campaign. Personally, I advise going in chronological order beginning with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, while this is not the order they were written it creates a far better narrative.
j0lt
12-17-07, 08:01 AM Sensei by David Charney is an excellent historical fiction novel based around the events of the Heike Monogatari (war between the Minamoto and Taira clans) set at the end of the Heian period in Japan.
(don't bother with the sequel, it's not nearly as well-written)
KJW
01-08-08, 10:51 AM Updated 1/8/08

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KJW 12-14-07, 01:02 PM	This thread is for books, movies, and other resources that can help inspire those interested in developing d20 campaigns or settings for these time periods. Please post the time period and a brief description of the resource and I will add it here. Pirates There are so many sources available on the internet such as these provided by DebiHuman: http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/pirates/ or this one http://www.kipar.org/piratical-resou...ate-ships.html Whtknt Suggestions: url="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=19330&it=1"]Skull & Bones[/url] (Green Ronin) is practically tailor-made for what you want; a low-magic, high-adventure pirate campaign using a variant of the d20 System. It was also well-supported through Adamant Entertainment's Buccaneers & Bokor (http://adamant.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=272_4002), a series of e-zines about all things of interest to sea-dogs. I don't know that B&B is still published, however. Skull & Bones is available as a PDF (http://www.greenronin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1001&Product_Code=grr1018e&Category_Code=3) or in corporeal form (http://www.greenronin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1001&Product_Code=grr1018&Category_Code=3). If you decide to run a Skull & Bones campaign, please remember me, as I would be very interested. Black Flags: Piracy in the Caribbean (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2323&it=1) (Avalanche Press) is more of a historical viewpoint of the genre. You'll find little information on magic in this book, but there is a wealth of solid material on playing historical pirates, and it makes a darned good read, as well! It is available for a song ($3.00) right now on RPGNow (follow the link above) and is easily worth that price for value as backdropping alone! Pirates! (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1451&it=1) (Living Imagination) also melds reality with fantasy, presenting new feats, prestige classes, and magical items, as well as some very detailed ship construction rules. I haven't looked at the majority of them, but you might also find some materials of use in the following search from RPGNow (http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=pira tes&x=0&y=0&search_filter=&filters=&search_free=&search_in_description=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1). I know from experience that The Le Games (Unorthodox Pirates (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=20641&it=1)) produces some decent material that is always entertaining, and I have a physical copy of Pirates of the Sea of Fallen Stars (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=16831&it=1) which, although designed for the Forgotten Realms, does offer some good ideas and information. Aside from material specifically aimed at playing pirates, you might also want to track down copies of Stormwrack (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=28313&it=1) (Wizards of the Coast) and Seafarer's Handbook (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=484&it=1) (Fantasy Flight Games) from the Legends & Lairs series. Both of these offer essential information on aquatic adventuring. Oh, and leave us not forget AEG's Swashbuckling Adventures (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3521&it=1). Much of this line (http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=377) is compatible with both the original 7th Sea RPG and the d20 System version. And of course, Green Ronin's Freeport (http://www.rpgnow.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=free port&x=0&y=0&search_filter=&filters=&search_free=&search_in_description=1&search_in_author=1&search_in_artist=1) series is set in a fantasy pirate city! Historical Japan Sensei by David Charney is an excellent historical fiction novel based around the events of the Heike Monogatari (war between the Minamoto and Taira clans) set at the end of the Heian period in Japan. (don't bother with the sequel, it's not nearly as well-written) Napoleonic Era C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels are a wonderful read and will totally get you in the mood for a Napoleonic Era naval campaign. Personally, I advise going in chronological order beginning with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, while this is not the order they were written it creates a far better narrative.
j0lt 12-17-07, 08:01 AM	Sensei by David Charney is an excellent historical fiction novel based around the events of the Heike Monogatari (war between the Minamoto and Taira clans) set at the end of the Heian period in Japan. (don't bother with the sequel, it's not nearly as well-written)
KJW 01-08-08, 10:51 AM	Updated 1/8/08